flaps-ct employees to take more flights in 2007' and 72:12:; 1—3"
cent predict an increase in the amount of bu§m€55 U . the
Another factor in the environment of air travel ‘5 1 - V
characteristics of the airport and FAA dCDSiW reg”:
tions. letBlue experiences general performance Sell)“ 2
by operating in high traffic areas such as the northem‘t‘zr _
United States, and the airport congestion hampers perfot
mance statistics.” The FAA regulates airport 5101 (a 81f” is l
a time frame allotted for takeoff and landing)53 allocatlons
with the intent to ease congestion problems and enhance
airport capacity. For example, recent measures at New
York La Guardia airport include growth limitations, regu-
lations encouraging use of larger aircraft, and a proposal
for 10-year slot reallocation.”
Natural disasters and annual weather patterns also =
affect the performance statistics for air travel. Florida is
‘ quite popular during the winter months and the western
states during summer months. Air travel is also affected
by winter weather in the Northeast and tropical storms
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.‘so
In the airline industry, more than 60 percent of em-
ployees are unionized.“ Although IetBlue is nonunion-
ized, it can be affected by the industry environment. in
June 2006, the International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers campaigned to represent letBlue’s
ramp service workers. The bid was unsuccessful; however
IetBlue’s management commented, “We can expect on-
gomg attempts by unions to organize groups of )etBlue
crewmembers.”62